Metal-scrap-compressing machine.



J. DUNN.

METAL SCRAP GOMPRBSSING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1320.4, 1909.

1,033,090. Patented July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 59 60m /4'4 .f6/59 y o om@ "1"" O C .manners I oulzAPHCo., wAsHlNuroN, D. c.

J. DUNN.

METAL SCRAP GOMPRBSSING MACHINE. l,

Patented July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ARPLIUATION FILED BECA, 1909.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN DUNN, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VULCAN DETINNINGCOM- l PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

METAL-SCRAP-COMPRESSING lVIACI-IINE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city of Streator, county of Lasalle, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Scrap-CompressingMachines; and I do hereby declare thev following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to machines for compressing sheet metal scraps,such as detinned scraps, in detinning plants; such machines, forexample, as are disclosed in United States patents to Laernoes and Dunn,Nos. 7 37 ,424 and 737 ,425 of August 25th, 1903. It frequently occurs,in such machines, that the compressing plunger becomes caught in thereceiving boxes in which the scrap is compressed, by pieces of scrapwhich work up between the side faces of the plunger and the walls of thereceiving box. v

The object of the present invention is to provide mechanism such thatthe compressing plunger may be `released when it has been so caught, inorder that it may resume its normal operation.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section through the compressingmachine on a plane which passes through the axis of the concentriccylinder; Fig. 2 is a detailed section of the upper end of thecompression cylinder showing the tail-rod on the end of the piston, andthe tail-rod clutch; Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively an elevation andplan of the rod on which the jaws of the tail-rod clutch are pivoted;Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a rear and front elevation of one of theclutch jaws; and Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan and centralsection of the automatic clutch for the lifting rod of the tail-rodclutch.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the receiving box 1 is shown above an anvil 2,and in operative position above the receiving box, on the platform 3, isthe compressing cylinder 4 in which the piston 5, carrying at its'lowerend the hammer-block 6, reciprocates. The admission and exhaust ofmotive fluid for this cylinder is controlled by hand lever 40 connectedto valve rod 4l which actuates the valves in valve chests 9.

As has been suggested, it sometimes oc- Speccation of- Letters Patent.

Application filed December 4, 1909.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Serial No. 531,351.

curs that the hammer-head 6, which necesy sarily fits closely theinterior ofthe receiving box l, will be caught therein by a scrapworking up between it and the walls of the receiving box, so kthat thepressure ordinarily employed for lifting the plunger will not ,besufficient to eect that purpose, and it is the object of the presentinvention to supply accessory mechanism for liftingthe plunger in suchan emergency, the mechanism being of such character that it can readilyand effectively be brought into operation when the' plunger is caught,but remains out of the way when the plunger is working normally.

By reference to the drawings, it will be observed that there projectsbeyond the piston head a tail-rod 42 which has, screwed on to itsextremity, a rounded cap 43 adapted to be engaged by the tail-rodclutch. This clutch comprises a stein 44 havingat its lower end a head45 upon the shoulder of which, and surrounding the stem, is a fourarmyoke 46 (see Figs. 3 and4) in which the four clutch jaws 47 (see Figs. 5and 6) are pivoted as shown. The yoke v46 is conined in place by asleeve 48 surrounding and screwed onto the stem and which also serves asan abutment to engage the headplate 49 of the shock-absorbing spring 50to stop the upward movement of the stem. In Fig. 2, the tail rod clutchis illustrated in the position in which it is about to be unclutched,if-.the upward movement is continued, and .it `willbe observed that eachof the` clutch jaws 47 has an arc-shaped upstanding continuation 51adapted to engage thefbevele'd edge lof chamber 52 in the head plate ofthe cylinder, the chamberbeing of such diameter` at its open end thatthe upward movement lof the stem presses inwardly theV continuations 51and thereby throws out the clutch jaws Vagainst the action of -coiledspring 53 to free the clutch.

Stem 44 is conveniently attached to the end of a rope 54 running oversuitably positioned sheaves (see Fig. .1) :and brought into proximity tothe lever 40 so that it may be manipulated by the controlling operator,and this rope may conveniently becounterweighted -asv indicated .at 54,so ythat the counter-weight, and the friction of projec- 'tions 5lagainst thewall of chamber 52, will withhold the clutch at the upper endof the cylinder untilthe counter-weight is lifted -lDO by the operatorin order to lower the tail rod clutch 47 into engagement with the cap 43for the purpose of assisting the disengagement of the hammer block 6when it is tightly wedged in the cylinder l by scrap. The stem sie:passes through an automatic clutch 55 (see Figs. 7 and 8) comprising, inthe form illustrated, a roller clutch consisting of a pair of clutchblocks 56 almost conipletely embracing the stem and confined within ahousing by spring-pressed cover plate 57 and pressed against the stem byrollers 58 lying between it and the inclined walls 59 of the housing.lThis automatic clutch has trunnions 6() which are journaled in a yokeforming part of the lever 62 which is pivoted at its short end to anupstanding support G1 rising from the head of cylinder il, and isconnected at its other end to a strong lifting rod 63 operated by apiston in the cylinder 64., which may be of large diameter. Thiscylinder may be actuated by any suitable motive fluid, and shouldpreferably have a controlling valve in position to be readilymanipulated by the operator without changing his position from which hecan reach the lever 4.0.

The operation will be understood to be as follows :-If the hammer block6 becomes caught in the receiving box, so that it will not move underthe ordinary steam pressure employed, the operator manipulates the rod4A, by means of the rope 54 to lower the tail-rod clutch until thebeveled faces of its descending jaws engage the cap f3 on the tail-rodand are opened thereby, and again closed into the clutching positionillustrated in Fig. 2 by the coiled spring 53. The operator thereuponadmits the motive iiuid beneath the piston in cylinder G4 to lift therod G3, which, acting through the long leverage of lever 62, tends tolift the automatic clutch 55, which thereupon clutches the stem 44 andlifts it. In this way the steam pressure tending to lift the plunger issupplemented by the lifting effect of the tail-rod clutch and the hammerblock G is disengaged. As soon as the hammer-block is free its furtherupward movement may be produced by the pressure of the motive fluidwithin its own cylinder 4C so that the necessary extent of movement oflever 62 is but slight. As soon as the piston 5 is lifted to a pointwhere the projections 51 engage the edge of chamber 52, the clutch isautomatically released and the operation proceeds in the normal manner,the operator fastening the tail-rod clutch in its elevated position bymeans of the rope 54C.

I claim:

1. In a metal-scrap compressing machine, a receiving box in which themetal scrap is compressed, a compressing plunger working' in said boxand power mechanism for actuating said plunger, 1n combination withauxiliary lifting mechanism adapted to grasp and lift the plunger tofree it when it is stuck in the receiving box, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a metal-scrap compressing machine, a receiving box in which themetal-scrap is compressed, a compressing plunger working in said box,and a power cylinder and piston associated with said plunger toreciprocate it, in combination with mechanism for supplementing at willthe power of said piston to impart a jerk to the plunger to free it whenit is stuck in the receiving box; substantially as described.

3. In a metal-scrap compressing machine, a receiving box in which themetal-scrap is compressed and a compressing plunger working in said box,in combination with a clutch normally out of engagement with the plungerbut mounted to be brought into engagement therewith at the will of theoperator, and power mechanism for pulling on t-he clutch to free theplunger when the plunger is stuck in the receiving box, sub stantiallyas described.

4l. In a metahscrap compressing machine, a receiving box in which themetal-scrap is compressed and a compressing plunger working in said box,in combination with a clutch normally out of engagement with the plungerbut mounted to be brought into engagement therewith at the will of theoperator, power mechanism for pulling on the clutch to free the plungerwhen the plunger is stuck in the receiving box, and automatic mechanismactuated by the plunger in its upward movement after it has been freedto release and withhold the clutch, substantially as described.

5. In a metal-scrap compressing machine, a receiving box in which themetal-scrap is compressed, a power cylinder vertically alined with thereceiving box and having a piston and piston-rod, a hammer head carriedat the lower end of the pistonerod 110 and working in said box as acompressing hammer, and a tail-rod projecting beyond the piston withinthe cylinder in combination with a tail-rod clutch in the'upper end Y ofthe cylinder and having a lifting rod ex- 115 tending through that end,a rope connected to the clutch rod by which the clutch may be suspendedout of action or lowered into clutching engagement with the tail-rod, alifting lever fulcrumed above the cylinder 120 and carrying an automaticclutch associated with the clutch rod, and a power piston associatedwith said lever to lift it and cause the automatic clutch to grip andlift the tailrod clutch to free the hammer head when 125 it is stuck inthe receiving box, substantially as described.

6. In a metal-scrap compressing machine, a receiving box in which themetal-scrap is compressed, a power cylinder vertically 130 alined withthe receiving box and having a piston and piston-rod, a hammer headcarried at the lower end of the piston-rod and Working in said box as acompressing hammer, and a tail-rod projecting beyond the piston withinthe cylinder, in combination with a tail-rod clutch in the upper end ofthe cylinder and having a lifting rod extending through that end, a ropeconnected to the clutch-rod by which the clutch may be suspended out ofaction or lowered into clutching engagement with the tail-rod, and powermechanism adapted to exert a pull on the clutch lifting rod to free thehammer head when it is stuck in the receiving box, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a metal-scrap compressing machine, a receiving box in which themetal-scrap is compressed, a power cylinder vertically alined with thereceiving box and having a piston and piston-rod, a hammer head Carriedat the lower end of the piston-rod and working in said box as acompressing hammer, and a t-ail-rod projecting beyond the piston withinthe cylinder, in combination with a tail-rod clutch in t-he upper end ofthe cylinder and having a lifting rod extending through that end, a ropeconnected to the clutch-rod by which the clutch may be suspended out ofaction or lowered into clutching engagement with the tail-r0d, powermechanism adapted to exert a pull on the clutch lifting rod to free thehammer head when it is stuck in the receiving box, and mechanism forautomatically releasing the tail-rod clutch as the piston reaches theupper limit of its travel, substantially as described. 7

8. In a metalscrap compressing machine,

a receiving box in which the metal-scrap is compressed, a power cylindervertically alined with the receiving box and having a piston andpiston-rod, a hammer head carried at the lower end of the piston-rod andworking in said box as a compressing hammer, and a tail-rod projectingbeyond the piston within the cylinder, in'combination with a tail-rodclutch in the upper end of the cylinder and having a lifting rodextending through that end, a rope connected to the clutch-rod by whichthe clutch may be suspended out of action or lowered into clutchingengagement with the tail-rod, power mechanism adapted to exert a pull onthe clutch lifting rod t0 free the hammer head when it is stuck in thereceiving box, and mechanism for automatically releasing and buffing thetail-rod clutch as the piston 'reaches the upper limit of its travel,substantially as described.

9. In a metal scrap compressing machine, a receiving box in which themetal scrap is compressed, and a compressing plunger working in saidbox, in combination with a clutch adapted to engage and disengage theplunger, a clutch rod connected to said clutch, and an automatic clutchadapted to freely permit the movement of the clutch rod but to tightlygrasp and hold the rod upon its own movement; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DUNN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE GoULDING, HARRY W. LUKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

